The heartbroken mum of a little girl who was knocked down and killed by a driver high on vodka and cocaine has admitted her family will never get over her death.

Katarzyna Plaszewska Siatka spoke out today after Ciaran Lane was jailed for five years for knocking down and killing her little daughter Vanessa Siatka in Phoenix Park on Easter Monday last year.

Lane, from the Navan Road in Cabra, admitted causing the death of the 23-month old girl while he was out of his mind on cocaine and booze.

Ciaran Lane (25), of Ashington Avenue, Cabra, who todayt was jailed for five years for dangerous driving causing the death of 23-month-old Vanessa Siatka at Ratra Triangle, Phoenix Park in April, 2015. (Image: Courtpix)

And after he was jailed for five years today, Vanessa's mum said her and her husband Lukasz would never be the same again.

In a heartwrenching victim impact statement, Katarzyna revealed: "Vanessa made our lives complete. Vanessa was just perfect, with beautiful blue eyes, a perfect pretty face, she was just perfect."Recalling that fateful day last Easter, she said: "What started out as a plan to spend my evening with Vanessa in the Phoenix Park to meet friends, play and pick flowers ended in a nightmare. In one moment we were happy, playing and enjoying ourselves in the park; in the next moment I hear the loud music, a loud engine and everything just happened so quickly; I couldn’t do anything only watch as my baby was taken away from me. For me that was the moment time and my heart stopped.

"The moment the car hit Vanessa it not only swept her away physically, it also took her away from us. "Although we know the paramedics and staff at Temple Street tried to save Vanessa, it was at this moment our child was taken from us. All I could do was run to my baby.

"I spoke to her; I told her I loved her and everything would be ok, Daddy was on the way. I prayed for her but as she lay on the road a small tear came from her eye and I knew in my heart that this was her last ‘Goodbye Mammy’.

"Our hearts were shattered, Lukasz and I. Life stopped. We did not know how to exist; how to sleep; how to eat; how to wake up. Every day is a nightmare; even to breath was difficult. I still have nightmares about the accident, they never go away.

"Without Vanessa we will never be the same; never as happy as we were. Vanessa’s room is empty; our home is empty; our lives are empty.

"For the rest of our lives every day will be a challenge. Our hearts will always be broken because a part of both of us died with Vanessa, People keep telling us –time is a healer-it’s not. Our life now is empty."

Thanking everyone who has helped him since that tragic day, heartbroken Katarzyna added: "We hope that Vanessa’s death will be a strong message to everyone to never ever drink or take drugs when driving."